https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=71.233.148.105 2026-07-11T02:04:38Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.30.0 https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1203:_Time_Machines&diff=34906 2013-04-24T05:10:28Z

<p>71.233.148.105: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1203<br /> | date = April 24, 2013<br /> | title = Time Machines<br /> | image = time machines.png<br /> | titletext = 'All time machine systems nominal ... T-minus ten ... eleven ...'<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> [[Cueball]] activates a time machine to go back into the past. The time machine proceeds to rewind time, but in the process, rewinds the event where the time machine itself was turned off. This turns the time machine off, and stops it from traveling further back in time.<br /> <br /> The title text mimics a countdown to a rocket launch. &quot;T minus 11,&quot; for example, means 11 seconds until liftoff. When applied to time machines, the concept is humorously confusing because we're using arithmetic to describe the time until we activate a time machine.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :The problem with time machines:<br /> :[Cueball has his hands on the lever of a time machine.]<br /> <br /> :[Cueball turns the time machine on.]<br /> :''Click''<br /> :EEEEEEE<br /> <br /> :[Time machine reverses time to before Cueball turned the time machine on.]<br /> :EEEEEEE<br /> :''Click''<br /> <br /> :[Cueball is puzzled.]<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics with color]]</div>

71.233.148.105